Arch-supporting sole



Dec. 10, 1929. E. c. MARTIN ARCH SUPPORTING SOLE Filed Sept. 10, 1928 Patented Dec. 10, 1929 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE EDWARD C. MARTIN, OF HANOVER, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO SHEPPARD &

MEYERS, INC, OF HANOVER, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYL- VANIA ARCH-SUPPORTING some My invention consists in an improved method of constructing the soles of shoes in a manner to support the arch of the foot.

This object is accomplished by two means: first, by a button or pad, secured between layers of the insole, in a position to exert a suitable pressure upon the forward part of the pedal-arch; and, second, by a shank-member designed to cooperate with the said button, by means of a proper juxtaposing of the two members, in order to supplement with the pressure of the shank member the pressure exerted on the foot by-the button, and more particularly to support directly the central and posterior parts of the pedal-arch by forcing the insole to assume a curve corresponding to the curve of the human arch.

A further object of my invention is so to combine the aforesaid arch-supporting features with the insole of the shoe as to avoid for the wearer the annoyance and harm often caused by the slipping of arch-supports that are independent of the sole, and the inconvenience of making his own, perhaps faulty, adjustments.

Another object of my invention is to provide an arch-supporting device that is compact, comparatively light, and not disfiguring to the shoe, since it is here worn as part of the usual insole.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the insole in its upright position, as it would be placed in a shoe;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the insole in its upright position;

Fig. 3 shows the insole upside down, with part of the canvas 2 raised in order to reveal fully the button, and with the shank in position to be positioned over the canvas 2, after the said canvas has been cemented down over the button.

The ordinary insole is represented by 1, as having a rib 7 to which may be sewn a welt and upper materials of a shoe in which the insole is incorporated. A pad or button, preferably of a durable but somewhat flexible material like leather, and preferably ovoid in outline and thicker in the middle than at the outer edges (through I do not limit my use of 7 this feature to the exact shape thus described), is designated by the numeral 4.

In the process of manufacture, the insole 1 is first cut to fit the shape and size of the last to which it must be attached in making the shoe. It is next channelled and then moulded to fit the curve and cut-out part of the bottom of the last. After the insole has been cemented in the regular way, the button 4 is fastened to the concave portion of the mold with cement. The insole then goes through its finishing or lip-setting, and a layer of canvas 2 or like fabric is then cemented to the under side of the insole, thus covering the member 4. In Fig. 3, the canvas 2 is shown in the process of being laid down upon and cemented'to the dorsal face of the insole. -A rivet 3 is then driven into the insole, through the button, and preferably through the canvas also. The direction of thisprocess might of course, reasonably be reversed.

After the completed insole has been tacked to the last as the first operation in the lasting department, the shoe proceeds in its regular course to the shanker operation, where the arch-supporting shank member is tacked on. The said shank-member consists of a piece of bent metal 5, generally rigid but with an appreciable amount of spring, and a strip of fibrous material 6, such as a layer of fibre board. The members 5 and 6 are secured together by means of pegs or rivets 88. The shank member is placed with the steel support 5 against the insole, with the one end secured thereto by means of tacks 1010, through holes 9-9. The other, or free, end of the shank lies squarely over the button 4 (the layer of canvas only intervening) as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. When the complete sole has been made up (as shown in Fig. 2) the free end of the shank members 5 and 6 will be pressed against the center of the button 4, thus reinforcing the pressure exerted by the button 4; on the forward portion of the wearers arch. At the same time, the insole will have received from the members 5 and 6 a curved outline corresponding to the proper form of the pedal-arch. By saying that the free end of the shank member lies squarely over the button 4, I mean that it is located approximately at the middle of the said button. The free end of the fibre member 6,

however, may or may not cover the whole of 5 the button, as desired.

I claim:

1. In an. insole having a shank portion, the combination therewith of a button secured thereto, and of an arch-supporting shank memberconsistingof'a metal and of afibre part and -having a fixed end and a free end, the fixed end, being secured to the posterior end of the shank portion of-the insole, and the free end lying squarely under the said button and bearing thereagainst.

2. In an insole having a shankv portion, the combination therewith of abuttoma rivet, securing said button to said shank portion at the forward end of the former, and. an

g arch-supporting shank-member having two ends,the one end being fixed to the posterior end of the shankportion of the shoe, and, the free end lying squarely under the said button and bearing thereagainst.

3. An insole having a pad member secured to the underside thereof, and a stiffener member of. rigid material, having an end thereof fixedto'the insole and the opposite end free and arched for underlying and bearing on said pad member.-

4. An insole havingapad member secured; directly to the underside thereof, and astiifener member of rigid material having anend thereof-fixed tothe insole and the opposite end free and arched away from the insole, said arched end underlying and adapted to bear against the pad member.

5. An insole having a button. secured directly to the underside thereof, and aistiffener member of: rigid material having an. end. thereof fixed tothe insole and the opposite end. free and arched away from the insole, said arched end underlying. and adapted. to bear against the button, approximately at the center portion thereof, and means connected.

' withthe forward. end. ofv the buttonv for se curingsai d. position to the insole,

ln testimonywhereof I aflixmy signature;

EDWARD C. MARTIN. 

